Peace in South Caucasus propels Trans-Caspian route to top Eurasian corridor EU study finds

Peace and growing stability in the South Caucasus are making the Trans-Caspian International Transport Corridor (TITR) the most attractive route for connectivity between Europe and Asia, with Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Georgia, and Türkiye emerging as its core stakeholders.

This assessment is outlined in a comprehensive study published by the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Enlargement and the Eastern Neighbourhood, titled “Advancing the Interregional Connectivity Agenda with Central Asia, Türkiye, and the South Caucasus,” according to local media.

The authors of the study point out that amid the declining reliability of the Northern Corridor and the slower pace of development of the Southern Corridor, the Trans-Caspian Transport Corridor is increasingly viewed as the most promising option for a diversified and geopolitically resilient multimodal transport link between Europe and Asia.

For the European Union, strengthening transport connectivity with Türkiye, the Eastern Partnership region—including the South Caucasus—and Central Asia could enable faster and more dependable imports of raw materials and goods. At the same time, it would open new export opportunities across Eurasia, fostering mutually beneficial trade relations.

“Moreover, a significant increase in traffic in the region and the agreements reached between Armenia and Azerbaijan on August 8 further strengthen the position of the Trans-Caspian Corridor as the most viable route,” the study states.

While noting a recent surge in infrastructure investment along the corridor, the authors emphasise that substantial challenges and bottlenecks remain. These include both physical infrastructure constraints and connectivity issues, ranging from the efficiency of key junction points—such as border crossing checkpoints—to the need for long-term investments in new infrastructure, including ports.

The study approaches the issue from the EU’s perspective, as it was commissioned by the bloc. In this context, it also highlights the potential role of countries such as Armenia, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, and Ukraine, which could contribute in complementary ways to the development of the Middle Corridor.

According to the study, Armenia’s involvement could provide operational advantages for the Trans-Caspian route through the creation of additional branches across the South Caucasus by restoring transport links between Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Türkiye. These opportunities have emerged as a result of recent geopolitical developments in the region referenced earlier in the analysis.

The authors further note that Central Asian countries not located directly along the main corridor—such as Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, and Tajikistan—could, through feeder routes and multimodal hubs, significantly enhance exports of critical raw materials and other goods both to European markets and within the wider region.

“With regard to Ukraine and Moldova, they represent a distinct but complementary dimension of the region’s connectivity landscape. Their strategic orientation is primarily driven by integration with the EU, yet they remain connected to the Trans-Caspian route through the western interface—Black Sea and Danube ports—linking to the Trans-European Transport Network (TEN-T),” the study says.

Research conducted by international financial institutions consistently underscores that so-called “soft” bottlenecks—including harmonised tariffs, digitalisation, and coordinated governance—are just as crucial as “hard” infrastructure gaps. For the EU, improving the efficiency of the corridor would accelerate and stabilise imports of goods, including critical raw materials, while further strengthening links with export markets across Eurasia.

By supporting priority projects identified in the expansion plans of the Trans-European Transport Network and other regional strategies, the EU can help unlock the full potential of the Trans-Caspian corridor, reinforce supply chain resilience, and promote mutually beneficial trade, the authors conclude.

By Tamilla Hasanova